Button-fastener



(Nd Model.)

R. BELL. I BUTTON FASTENER- No. 513,866. Patented Jain. so, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT MOWRY BELL, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

BUTTON-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,866, dated January 30, 1894.

' Application filed August 8, 1893. Serial No. 482,658. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT MOWRY BELL, of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented anew and Improved Button-Fastener, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a button fastener adapted to secure buttons of ordinary form, to garments or the like, and to provide a fastener of simple, cheap and durable construction, which may be quickly and conveniently applied, and which will present a smooth surface affording no projections liable to catch on ones vclothing.

The invention consists in a wire so formed as to engage a button head of ordinary form, and a clamp for the end or ends of the wire, consisting of a plate having an opening for the passage therethrough of the wire, and having ears adapted to successively fold down on said plate and bend the wire and firmly hold the same.

The invention also consists in the novel details of construction hereinafter particularly described and defined in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section showing the fastener applied. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are perspective views showing the progressive stages in applying the fastener. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the fastener applied. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the fastening wire and the clamp plate or blank before being bent; and Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate slight modifications of the clamp.

The fastening wire a, in the form shown is adapted to engage a button I), having two or more apertures, and is of U-shape or staple form, its ends being pointed for penetrating the fabric a, and, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the wire is passed through two of the holes of the button and through the fabric. In connection with the wire a clamp is employed for holding securely the inner ends of the wire, the clamp consisting of a plate of having any suitable opening (1 for the passage therethrough of the wire, said opening being preferably mainly located at one side'of the center. Integrally with the plate d, two ears 6, f, are formed, at diametrically opposite points on the plate, as shown. One of the ears has at its free end, a notch e for a purpose presently described, and the opposite ear is provided with any suitable means for retaining it in a folded position, such means consisting, in the form shown in Figs. 1 to. 6, of a tongue f.

If desired, a collar '9 may be employed for preventing damage to the button-hole of a garment.

In applying the fastener, the wire ends are passed through the apertures of the button, through collar g, if the latter is employed, and through the opening d, of plate d, the ears 8 and f, on plate (2, preferably, having been previously bent upward about ninety degrees as in Figs. 2 and 3. The ear eis now folded down against plate 01, thus bending the wire toward the ear f, the wire lying in the notch e of ear e; the ear f is now folded down on car e, thus bending the 'wire in the reverse direction, the notch e, preventing lateral displacement of the wire. The ear f is now secured in place, and this is effected, with the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6, by bending the tongue f, under the ears e and plate d, as shown in Fig. 1.

In the form shown in Fig. 7, the fastening tongue f on ear f, is of arrow-head shape, and is adapted to enter a slot e in the ear 6 at its base, the entering of the tongue being efiected after ear 6 has been folded down.

In the form shown in Fig. 8, the earf is adapted to frictionally engage the plate (1, after the manner of a watch-case back.

It will be understood that two wires a may be employed if desired; also that the fastener may be employed in connection with buttons having a shank provided with an eye.

In addition to clamping the wire, the clamp serves to cover and conceal the points thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. As a new article of manufacture, a but--' ton fastener comprising a wire for engaging the button head, and a clamp for the wire consisting of a plate having an opening for the wire, and flexible ears thereon, adapted to fold down successively on the plate and bend the wire twice on itself, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture a button fastener comprising a wire of U-shape or staple form, anda clamp for said wire consist ing of an apertured plate through which the wire passes, said plate being provided with flexible ears one of which is folded upon the plate and clamps the wire between said ear and plate and the other is folded upon the first ear and clamps the ends of the wire between the surfaces of the respective ears, and a catch on one of the ears, substantially as described.

3. The herein described button fastener, consisting of a wire in lJ-shape or staple form, a collar fitting such Wire, and a clamp for the ends of the wire consisting, of a plate having an opening for receiving the wire, and cars at diametrically opposite points on said plate adapted to fold'against the same, and means for holding the ears in the folded position, substantially as described.

4. The herein described button fastener consisting of a wire engagingabutton head, and a clamp for said wire consisting of a plate hav ing an opening for the passage of the wire and provided with ears at opposite points, one of which is folded upon the plate, and the other upon the first ear, the wire being clamped between the surfaces of the respective folds and one of the ears having a notch at its free end to receive the wire and pre vent displacement thereof, substantially as described.

5. As an improved article of manufacture a clamp for securing the fastening wire of buttons, consisting of a plate having an opening for the passage of the wire, ears formed at diametrically opposite points on the plate, one of said ears havinga notch at its free end for the purpose described, and the opposite ear provided with a catch, substantially as set forth.

ROBERT MOWRY BELL.

Witnesses:

JOHN I. BELL, VVALTER N. CARROLL. 

